Some early Wips of a handful the next 'Ancients'.
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k611/technodestructorman/IMGP4855_zpscc1ab3e3.jpg)
L/R...2xFanatics, Heavy warband, 2x warband (Oh dear...What have I done to matey's right arm ....That's gotta be changed big time before I even get to the left arm.).....Commander...Helmet and left arm still to do.
Cheers - Phil.
They look good so far :). Any chance of the spear arms being a bit more animated, or are they restricted by the moulding process?
Really like the two swordsmen, the first spearmen and the javelinman who's throwing.
The javelin should a be a bit more horizontal, unless he's just lobbing it over the front line. Otherwise nice!
agree with Steve J. The spear guys would be good for second rank but could do with some more animated types for front ranks.
Are the fanatics going to be the full on danglies out, tatooed nutters?
Excellent stuff Techno, as always!
Only two poses for each reference? Also, as Steve J and Matt of Munslow, I´ll like to see more animated poses for the warbands, more "hairy barbarian".
Where are Asterix and Obelix? 10mm Dogmatix? ;)
OK chaps...
I'll see if I can 'animate' the spear guys a bit...Not a problem really sculpting wise...But possible to make Dave's job an absolute nightmare. ;)
Pose numbers ?
Erm....I'm just doing like for like poses for the figures I can make out in the old range at the moment....The actual numbers will be down to 'The Man'. (i.e Leon. ;) ;D
As far as 'the danglies' as Matt so eloquently puts it... ;D....I have given them some rather insignificant ones already...But I didn't really feel i could go too far, in case I caused offense.
This thread is going to degenerate now, isn't it ? :o
And now Lemmey wants a Dominatrix......Oh sorry, I misread that. :-[
Cheers - Phil.
Brilliant work, iv,e no idea how to sculpt but once you have the green stuff in a basic shape how long does it take to get a fig done,
kev
It's almost "How long is a piece of string ?" Kev.
Depends on the type/genre of model really.
Some I can possibly whip through in perhaps couple of hours.....But others can take up to perhaps four...maybe even longer. :'(
As you're constantly 'cycling round' the figures, it's difficult to tell for sure.
I tend never to do more than a part...for example, the legs or trousers...on one model, before putting it aside to set...moving on to the next.
Also depends on what the model is supposed to be armed with.
Obviously something like a spear or a bow takes a lot less time than some sort of rifle.
Getting headgear to 'look right' can be very time consuming in comparison to the other parts of the model.
Poses make a lot of difference too.
Arms into the sides....Relative piece of pee...Arms 'out' need some sort of wire, so a bit of drilling will be involved.
Will I have to solder onto the wire frame arm for something the chap's holding ?
It's tiny little 'extras' that often take up most of the time, I guess.....That and constantly mixing up little bits of putty ! ;) ;D ;D
You would not believe how much time that takes out of a day, if I'm doing 'special mixes' constantly. ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil.
The problem with over-animated poses is, without sufficient variety of poses, they look more like a troupe of formation dancers than a troop of warriors...
Very nice work indeed Phil :-bd These are just what I've been looking for, they'll fit my planned Albion campaign perfectly.
My preference, for what it's worth, is generally less animated poses that look good ranked up. Echoing Wulf's comment really.
Asterix and Obelix would make cool characters .... 8)
Cheers,
Kev
Asterix, Obelix and, most important of all, Vitalstatistix on that shield borne by two warriors! Go on, you know you want to! ;)
Mollinary
The spears could do with being a bit longer maybe; other than that - looking good! :)
Interesting points being raised here regarding the poses.
I'll have to check with Leon.
Always the possibility of 'extras' down the line though.
Quote from: Kiwidave on 02 April 2013, 06:39:07 PM
The spears could do with being a bit longer maybe; other than that - looking good! :)
Difficult one there Dave....From the references I've got, if anything, they might be a teensy weensy tad on the long side as they are. :-\
From an aesthetic point of view, I think I'd agree with you....Historically I
believe the representation's about right.
Cheers - Phil.
I agree with Techno, I check my sources 100 times before starting a miniature, and Techno check them like 1000, so the spears are historically accurate.
Fair enough! :)
Quote from: Techno on 02 April 2013, 02:02:17 PM
Some early Wips of a handful the next 'Ancients'.
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k611/technodestructorman/IMGP4855_zpscc1ab3e3.jpg)
L/R...2xFanatics, Heavy warband, 2x warband (Oh dear...What have I done to matey's right arm ....That's gotta be changed big time before I even get to the left arm.).....Commander...Helmet and left arm still to do.
Cheers - Phil.
To which "matey" were you referring, Phil? They look OK to me.
The chap chucking the spear Ray....His right forearm/wrist/hand looks pants !! :'( :'(
(Probably get away with a bit of judicious surgery. ;))
Cheers - Phil.
Looking good so far! 8)
Quote from: Techno on 02 April 2013, 03:47:50 PM
OK chaps...
I'll see if I can 'animate' the spear guys a bit...Not a problem really sculpting wise...But possible to make Dave's job an absolute nightmare. ;)
Pose numbers ?
The spear chucker pose could be levelled slightly, that would potentially make the casting easier actually. I think we can go with a third pose in the warband and the fanatics, as those will make up the bulk of most armies, and give a more irregular look?
Quote from: Techno on 03 April 2013, 10:08:40 AM
The chap chucking the spear Ray....His right forearm/wrist/hand looks pants !! :'( :'(
Looks like he's been on the spinach, that's all...! :D
Nice!
That right arm being squiffy could lead to an all-round solution perhaps.....if, as suggested, the javelin/spear was levelled, then the figure cloned with a shield added, you would end up with a third spearman to liven up the ranks. Just a thought.
On the subject of shields, how tricky is it ('guessing it's been considered before) to cast shields for 10mm? Spares would be very useful. I ask as I'm busy sculpting some fantasy types and I think a sprue of mixed shields could allow for variants in rank&file types, cutting down on the main figure(s) needed. Could the shield be sculpted onto the base perhaps and used as desired? Leftovers could be used as field clutter or casualty markers? I tend to think along lines of economy/versatility generally but I'm ignorant with regards casting limitations (and sculpting!?).
By the way, these guys might be useful for Dunlendings.
Anyway, good work Phil.
Regards, Rob.
QuoteI think we can go with a third pose in the warband and the fanatics, as those will make up the bulk of most armies, and give a more irregular look?
If you were doing 6 poses total my preferance would be for 4 warband poses and keep to the 2 fanatic poses. Most of the Gaul armies are going to be represented by many warband units with a few fanatic units as elites/exotic troops (please someone correct me if I'm wrong). So a couple of more dynamically posed spear armed warriors to go on the front of bases with the more static 2 designs already in progress being the rear ranks.
Quote from: Matt of Munslow on 05 April 2013, 01:27:53 PM
If you were doing 6 poses total my preferance would be for 4 warband poses and keep to the 2 fanatic poses. Most of the Gaul armies are going to be represented by many warband units with a few fanatic units as elites/exotic troops (please someone correct me if I'm wrong). So a couple of more dynamically posed spear armed warriors to go on the front of bases with the more static 2 designs already in progress being the rear ranks.
Leon ?? Waddayareckon ?
Makes very little difference to me...I'm happy to 'go with the flow'.
Quote from: badstar on 03 April 2013, 08:33:12 PM
On the subject of shields, how tricky is it ('guessing it's been considered before) to cast shields for 10mm? Spares would be very useful. I ask as I'm busy sculpting some fantasy types and I think a sprue of mixed shields could allow for variants in rank&file types.
Anyway, good work Phil.
Regards, Rob.
Thanks Rob.
A sprue ?
Wouldn't take long to do something along those lines for me.....Just depends on exactly what folk would want as spares....and the sizes, as the fantasy ones would need to be a tiny bit bigger to 'look right'.
If Leon fancies something along those lines, I'll do them with pleasure....If not I'll do a quick tutorial (HAH!) on how to make yourself some spare shields and an easy way of cloning them. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: Techno on 05 April 2013, 02:50:32 PM
Leon ?? Waddayareckon ?
Makes very little difference to me...I'm happy to 'go with the flow'.
Fine by me, sounds good.
Quote from: Techno on 05 April 2013, 02:50:32 PM
A sprue ?
Wouldn't take long to do something along those lines for me.....Just depends on exactly what folk would want as spares....and the sizes, as the fantasy ones would need to be a tiny bit bigger to 'look right'.
If Leon fancies something along those lines, I'll do them with pleasure....If not I'll do a quick tutorial (HAH!) on how to make yourself some spare shields and an easy way of cloning them. ;)
Shields could be really handy, for all of the Ancients ranges as we move forward. The tricky bit is going to be getting them the right size after the moulding process. You'd probably need to do one of each for us to mould, and then we send a load of castings to be sprued up?
:-\
Quote from: Leon on 05 April 2013, 03:12:05 PM
Fine by me, sounds good.
I'll go with that then. ;)
Quote from: Leon on 05 April 2013, 03:12:05 PM
Shields could be really handy, for all of the Ancients ranges as we move forward. The tricky bit is going to be getting them the right size after the moulding process. You'd probably need to do one of each for us to mould, and then we send a load of castings to be sprued up?
I can 'clone' undetailed putty 'flats' in minutes without the need for you to have to stick them in a mould Boss ('Cos I'm a smartarse :P)
I'll have a go at 'cloning' one with detail to see what that comes out like...If it works I can make a sprue from clones....If it doesn't I can do one of each and bung 'em up for return and sticking on a sprue. ;) :)
Sound good ?
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: Techno on 05 April 2013, 03:52:39 PM
I can 'clone' undetailed putty 'flats' in minutes without the need for you to have to stick them in a mould Boss ('Cos I'm a smartarse :P)
I'll have a go at 'cloning' one with detail to see what that comes out like...If it works I can make a sprue from clones....If it doesn't I can do one of each and bung 'em up for return and sticking on a sprue. ;) :)
Sound good ?
Have you got any of the shields from the Carthage / Repub ranges as well, from the original masters? If they could be done first, we can add those as a nice little extra item.
I've actually got a couple of mixed bags of weapons / shields and whatnot I've found in some moulds which I need to get moulded up as well.
Quote from: Leon on 05 April 2013, 04:04:29 PM
Have you got any of the shields from the Carthage / Repub ranges as well, from the original masters? If they could be done first, we can add those as a nice little extra item.
Ho ...
Yus... ;)
How many are you thinking of sticking on a single sprue Leon ?
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: Techno on 05 April 2013, 04:18:12 PM
Ho ...Yus... ;)
How many are you thinking of sticking on a single sprue Leon ?
Cheers - Phil.
Something handy and round...(insert joke here)... 5's maybe?
For ease of casting, 5 shields coming up from a flat sprue would be best, and we can cut feeds into each end of it in the mould.
Figures look brilliant. Re. separate shields - they would be really useful, as some gamers base them and use them as casualty markers. Seen it done and looks quite good. Just a thought.
Well done. DaveL
Quote from: Leon on 05 April 2013, 04:21:58 PM
For ease of casting, 5 shields coming up from a flat sprue would be best, and we can cut feeds into each end of it in the mould.
Nah....That's making life
far too easy for Dave....I'll do them at right angles with a wibbly wobbly sprue ;) :P ;D ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: Techno on 05 April 2013, 06:02:45 PM
Nah....That's making life far too easy for Dave....I'll do them at right angles with a wibbly wobbly sprue ;) :P ;D ;D ;D
Send something like that as well, just to see the look on his face...! :D
Roger.....Wilco ! ;)
Just make sure you give Dave the silly one first ! :D
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: Techno on 05 April 2013, 06:14:07 PM
Roger.....Wilco ! ;)
Just make sure you give Dave the silly one first ! :D
Cheers - Phil.
:-bd
Well this is all getting rather exciting (I don't get out much since I took up sculpting). I'd like to say, with credit to Monsieur Aznavour:
"Thank Heavens, for little Gauls".
:D
Cheers, Rob.
Quote from: badstar on 05 April 2013, 07:24:41 PM
Well this is all getting rather exciting (I don't get out much since I took up sculpting). I'd like to say, with credit to Monsieur Aznavour:
"Thank Heavens, for little Gauls".
Oh Bad! What a youth you must be ;), this is not a product of Charles Aznavour, he of the incomparable "She!", but of the smoothest antique crooner of them all, Maurice (no, not the rule set!) Chevalier! Gigi, if I recall correctly? :-\
Mollinary
A forum of information AND culture!!!!! Standards are slipping Leon. Yes "Gigi" is correct.
By the way, is there a conspiracy aginst me going on!? Must check my orders in future for dodgey shields!
DaveL
:-[
Oh, the shame of it all....on one count for the awful gag, and two for mixing up my crooners. My apologies, age is definitely messing with my memories (which are dubious at best). I have some grey matter left though....thank Heavens for little cells? :D
Adieu!!
These are looking good Phil - I'm in for the whole of the Asterix crew 8)
Especially Panacea...
(http://www.asterix.com/edition/images/falbala3.png)
...and Mrs Geriatrix...
(http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/289420-106246-mrs-geriatrix_large.jpg)
:D
Will you lot stop tempting me to make even more figures before I've finished what's on the desk !! ;) ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil.
Phil - YET AGAIN - WORK FASTER. :d :d
IanS
Heavy warband on the workbench too?
I always thought M. Chevalier was talking about a group of five Welshmen frustrated because there were only four interested females in the bar. Thus "Cinque Evans, four leetle girls".
That is
awful.......But rather amusing !! ;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Phobos on 11 April 2013, 11:08:43 PM
Heavy warband on the workbench too?
Yes Phobos....
But only a couple at the moment. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 12 April 2013, 02:09:31 AM
I always thought M. Chevalier was talking about a group of five Welshmen frustrated because there were only four interested females in the bar. Thus "Cinque Evans, four leetle girls".
:D ;D 8) ;D :D
Quote from: FierceKitty on 12 April 2013, 02:09:31 AM
I always thought M. Chevalier was talking about a group of five Welshmen frustrated because there were only four interested females in the bar. Thus "Cinque Evans, four leetle girls".
Arghhh! ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: nikharwood on 10 April 2013, 07:05:27 PM
...I'm in for the whole of the Asterix crew 8)
It'd be fun to have them, but I don't think they'd sell in the required quantities...! I think Pete at Baccus might have done a 'Tall-and-Fat-elix', and a 'Short-Hairy-Bearded-elix' for his range which didn't sell too well I believe?
As I go through these chaps........
I notice in the old range that there are a couple of 'slingers' and a couple of archers.
Anyone got any idea how big/tall the bows would have been ?
With my next to useless searching abilities, I can't seem to find any particular references.
And I can't find any pretty pictures in my books. ~X( ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Difficult finding anything conclusive Phil but the two images below seem to suggest a similar curve and a length somewhat shorter than a longbow.
The bow in the sculpture is by the feet.
(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7475/galbow2.jpg)
(http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5666/galbow1.jpg)
Cheers
Ry
Quote from: Techno on 16 April 2013, 02:14:35 PM
I notice in the old range that there are a couple of 'slingers' and a couple of archers.
Anyone got any idea how big/tall the bows would have been ?
With my next to useless searching abilities, I can't seem to find any particular references.
And I can't find any pretty pictures in my books.
Stephen Allen,
Celtic Warrior: "The conclusion that has to be drawn is clear. The Celtic warrior used neither the bow nor the sling because they were not considered to be a warrior's weapons."
Saying that, these weapons were used to defend strongholds. There is apparently little archaeological evidence of Celtic bows. Plenty of slingstones and arrowheads, of course. In fact, I own some beautiful Celtic arrowheads! Bows were perhaps primarily hunting weapons. Time for informed guesswork?
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Celts-Archers-Corvus-Belli-15mm-Ancient-Celts-Item-150107-/00/s/MjI3WDU1Mw==/$(KGrHqZ,!jQFCepln)uPBQzLujJnvQ~~60_3.JPG)
Thanks Ry.....Thanks Michael.
Very useful info !! :-bd
(Now this time I'll try not to press the wrong button and lose my reply......Derrrr !! ;)) :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
Cheers - Phil.
(http://john844.org/sites/default/files/images/7-romes-enemies-ii-gallic-and-british-celts%5B1%5D.preview.jpg)
Quote from: Phobos on 17 April 2013, 03:54:19 PM
(http://john844.org/sites/default/files/images/7-romes-enemies-ii-gallic-and-british-celts%5B1%5D.preview.jpg)
Oh dear, have Newcastle lost again?
Good man Phobos !
MOSTuseful !
Osprey ?....Which one ?
'S'....Can't see any black and white striped tattoos..... ;D
Thanks - Phil
Quote from: Techno on 17 April 2013, 05:41:03 PM
Good man Phobos !
MOSTuseful !
Osprey ?....Which one ?
Front cover of Rome's Enemies (2) Gallic and British Celts. Didn't mention that one cos I thought you would have it :)
I wish Michael. ;) :)
The house would undergo gravitational collapse if I had all the books I'd really like to have.
It got pretty close to that with all the old models that I used to have stored in the attic in Notts.
Sadly most of the reference books I do have will probably never be of any use again. (He said, forgetting what he's got hidden away.....They'll come in useful ONE day !) ;) ;D
I just appreciate all the help ! (Truly)
Thanks all - Phil
Yep, a great book, I´m looking for the ones that I missed of Rome´s Enemies: Germanics and Dacians and Desert Frontier.
Quote from: Techno on 17 April 2013, 08:17:55 PM
I wish Michael.
You'll be glad to hear, then, that that is the only pic of bows and slings in the book -- being used to defend a stronghold, BTW ;)
Have you got the Connolly pics of Celts?
http://en.todocoleccion.net/hannibal-and-the-enemies-of-rome-peter-connolly~x26341282 (http://en.todocoleccion.net/hannibal-and-the-enemies-of-rome-peter-connolly~x26341282)
Haven't got that either Michael.
Thanks again for the heads up ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
The completed ? Gaul infantry.
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k611/technodestructorman/IMGP4883_zps4df859cd.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/technodestructorman/media/IMGP4883_zps4df859cd.jpg.html)
Before Photobucket change everything around again and I get lost........
Top row L/R
Heavy Inf Warband x 2...Archers x 2.....'Slingers' x 2.....Naked warriors x 2
Bottom row L/R
Warband x 4.......Chief....Musician (shame you can't see the horsey head on his instrument....quite pleased with that)....Standard bearer.
May have to tweak a couple of these after Dave has seen them.....Not absolutely convinced that those might not cause moulding problems. :-\
Cheers - Phil
Oh these are very nice indeed and good timing for my DBA army planning :).
Excellent, looking good!
Quote from: Techno on 14 May 2013, 03:16:09 PM
May have to tweak a couple of these after Dave has seen them.....Not absolutely convinced that those might not cause moulding problems. :-\
The only ones which might cause a problem would be:
- the firing archer, who will need a feed into the bottom of his bow.
- the second warband guy with his spear up, the spear may need to be a bit more in line with the figure, but we should be able to turn it on it's side for moulding.
- the chucking spear warband guy, we sometimes have trouble getting the metal into the back end of the spear on those poses.
I'll run a couple of small feeds in Matey ! ;)
I'm sure our esteemed forum members won't mind snipping those out.....Or am I wrong chaps ? :-\
Second warband guy ?
He's one of the ones I was worried about.
See what you think when you see him 'in the putty'. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Excellent work! No armoured warriors?
At the moment the only armoured chaps will be the cavalry P.
Probably do some conversions on the existing figures, if that's what Leon wants. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Very nicely done Phil 8)
Snipping feeds off not a problem at all :).
I do like the overall look of these.
There are a couple who look a bit flat - but it may be angle of the photo, as it is very square on.
Slinger - facing forwards - he looks a bit static - as he is in the act of launching his sling, perhaps leaning forward a bit, or one leg forward a bit?
Naked guy running - his back leg looks a bit long (this is a bit like some of the older ancients figures, who have a very long running leg).
Naked guy with sword and shield up - one of the ones who looks quite flat
Bottom row
Guy throwing spear (3rd along ) - one of the flat ones.
Standard Bearer - could the standard be a touch taller?
Hope the above is helpful (its meant to be!)
As to feed lines - happy to have these if they ensure better castings. I've cleaned up enough WM strips that have endless worms on them, that Pendraken figures seem very clean in comparison.
Hi Fred.
I see what you mean about the 'flats'.....The pose in each is very much in 'one plain'.
A compromise for casting as much as anything else.
There are bits of those that would be a bit too delicate to get through the pressing if I tried to be too 'cute' with the poses.
BUT.....Your points have given me some belting ideas of how to 'cheat' with them once they've been pressed the first time.
Give some more variations at basically no extra cost to Leon......Huzzah.
As is, the standard bearer will probably have to stay for now.....I based/sized him on a reference drawing which I believe is historically accurate.....But I can always change him once pressed...That'll give me a better idea of how far I could take the height of the standard and still make him castable.
(If I made it too tall there would be a really weak point just below the banner.)
The slinger ?
Might have been better to use a differently posed dolly for him.....Hey Ho !....I'll bear that in mind.
Running man ?.....That may be the angle of the photo.....But of all the dollies I made for Leon, that's one of my least favourites.
Might have to tweak one of those dollies and ask Leon to cast some more up. :-\
Yes....Feedback like this is very useful....So thanks....It all helps !! :-bd
Cheers - Phil
QuoteI see what you mean about the 'flats'.....The pose in each is very much in 'one plain'.
A compromise for casting as much as anything else.
There are bits of those that would be a bit too delicate to get through the pressing if I tried to be too 'cute' with the poses.
On figures such as these, I tend to bend the arms etc on the castings to add some variety to the poses. Once grouped together they do look different, even though they are the same figure.
Quote from: Steve J on 15 May 2013, 08:36:11 AM
On figures such as these, I tend to bend the arms etc on the castings to add some variety to the poses. Once grouped together they do look different, even though they are the same figure.
So.....You're a mind reader are you Steve ? ;) ;D (Keep it quiet....I might have got away with that ! ;D ;D ;D)
Cheers - Phil.
Nicely done Phil! These will make good looking warbands.
Regards, Rob.
Great bunch of figures Phil 8) I'm looking forward to these, and hopefully some armoured ones in the future.
Cheers,
Kev
I supposse there is a chariot projected too?
Oooooh......That's a very good point. :-\
Let me do some checking P.
Cheers - Phil.
Phil,
A great looking bunch of Gauls, that will definately become part of my collection for Dux B and DBA (a big yes to the chariot as well please Leon :D )
Looking forward to an early release,
Cheers,
Craig
Tiny Terrain Models
Thanks Craig. ;)
As one exists in the current range....(Which I can hack about to my heart's content)....I'm guessing (wildly) that that will be a 'goer'.
I'll 'talk' to 'the man'..........Soon. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
A chariot would be great :).
Quote from: Techno on 29 May 2013, 10:40:36 AM
As one exists in the current range....(Which I can hack about to my heart's content)....I'm guessing (wildly) that that will be a 'goer'.
I'll 'talk' to 'the man'..........Soon. ;)
You
do know that after 'pimping a ride' for the Gauls you'll be flooded with requests for other vehicles, don't you?
Go on then, you know you want to. I'll have a GAZ jeep, BMP and a couple of BTR's for a start.
Quote from: OldenBUA on 29 May 2013, 10:52:31 AM
You do know that after 'pimping a ride' for the Gauls you'll be flooded with requests for other vehicles, don't you?
Go on then, you know you want to. I'll have a GAZ jeep, BMP and a couple of BTR's for a start.
Nah :P..... I don't
do vehicles. ;) ;D (The chariot
could be an exception ;))
I had a complete surfeit of 'straight line' model making with 'Mechs' for Ral Partha and Wizkids etc
years ago.
I
truly can't
stand doing that sort of stuff nowadays.....Drives me completely spare.
I'll leave those sorts of models to Martin (Mart678)......I think he gets as much enjoyment out of making those, as I do making 'organic' models. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Oh flippin 'eck - that's another army I want to give my Earlies a workout.
Quote from: Techno on 29 May 2013, 12:16:39 PM
Nah :P..... I don't do vehicles. ;) ;D (The chariot could be an exception ;))
I had a complete surfeit of 'straight line' model making with 'Mechs' for Ral Partha and Wizkids etc years ago.
I truly can't stand doing that sort of stuff nowadays.....Drives me completely spare.
I'll leave those sorts of models to Martin (Mart678)......I think he gets as much enjoyment out of making those, as I do making 'organic' models. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Organic models - are they the ones you have to dip in fertiliser, Phil? :D
They certainly are Ray..
You wait until you see the range of killer tomatoes that are sitting on the desk !
I'm not sure whether Leon sees them as something that will fit in with any range at the moment though. :P
Cheers - Phil.
Phil you've done it again....I can't wait to get my sweaty hands on your gauls (good job, I re-read that :P). They look fantastic :D
all the best
Sean
Mental image! My eyes, the burn!b :-&
:P more pics of the fantastic gauls?
Quotefrom the references I've got, if anything, they might be a teensy weensy tad on the long side as they are. Undecided
From an aesthetic point of view, I think I'd agree with you....Historically I believe the representation's about right.
Yeah - i'm always surprised by how short Gallic and Celtic swords were too. Seemed to have averaged from 18 inches to about two feet which seems too short for a slashing weapon. And from the WRG book on Carthaginain/Libyan spearmen they had too few spears to throw but their spears seemed to be too short to use like a hoplite spear which is just confusing. Seems wrong that many ancient weapons were so short, but still seem to have been short in many cases (phalangite's pikes and xyston lances apart obviously)
As someone recently pointed out, there's the Spartan solution to the problem of a short weapon: step up closer.
But ferocity and short weapons will work wonders at times; ask my Zulus.
The gladius wasn't exactly huge.
Can short weapons be an indicator of technology and economics as much as tactics?
Gallic swords, early ones anyway, were cast bronze - you really don't want to make a bronze sword too long, or it'll end up either too thin & prone to bending & breaking (which the Romans thought Gallic swords were anyway) or excessively thick & heavy, making it slow & cumbersome. Even short, though, they'd carry quite a bit of weight & momentum (especially with a leaf shape shifting the balance point forward), and would be pretty lethal when swung. The weight would go badly against them if stabbed, it's harder to get momentum up over that short distance, and the bronze would lose it's point (and edge) quickly.
What bothers me about Gauls is that they used a big shield like that with a simple central handgrip. Where's that pragmatic Celtic problem-solving inventiveness?
Quote from: FierceKitty on 09 March 2014, 11:43:08 AM
What bothers me about Gauls is that they used a big shield like that with a simple central handgrip. Where's that pragmatic Celtic problem-solving inventiveness?
What's wrong with that? Shields should be used dynamically, sweeping your opponent's weapon away, blocking his view, slamming into him, or using the edges against his legs or sides. They're just as much a weapon as a defence. A centre-grip shield is far more useful to a mobile individual warrior.
Mechanically weak against a strong blow, that's what's wrong with it.
Even weaker when there is a Roman pilum embedded in it! :)
Presumably worse than having no shield at all, if the balance was so 'boggered' ?
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: FierceKitty on 09 March 2014, 12:07:51 PM
Mechanically weak against a strong blow, that's what's wrong with it.
Only if you stand there & let him hit you - the centre-grip shield of the Celts, Gauls & Vikings was designed to sweep away an opponent's weapon, not block it. The weight of the shield - and it was pretty weighty - and sweeping movement would deflect the blow well. You could - for short periods - hold your opponent at arm's reach, so he couldn't swing at you at all, it was never designed to be held close to the body (except in the Shield Wall, and that was purely defensive, unlike the Romans')
Speaking of which, if the large single-grip shield was so bad, how come the Roman Empire conquered the known world with it?
...or despite it. Beware the intoxication of rhetoric!
Quote from: FierceKitty on 09 March 2014, 01:19:37 PM
...or despite it.
It would never have become so widely used if it didn't have it's advantages. The Romans were great adopters of other people's good ideas, if there were better options out there for their style of combat they'd have filched them in a heartbeat.
Quote from: Ithoriel on 09 March 2014, 03:03:00 PM
It would never have become so widely used if it didn't have it's advantages. The Romans were great adopters of other people's good ideas, if there were better options out there for their style of combat they'd have filched them in a heartbeat.
Agreed. Until, of course, tactics or technology advance.
Is there any news on the Gauls and Early Imperial Roman releases? It has been very quiet :(
Quote from: dopplebockdunkel on 18 May 2015, 03:30:23 PM
Is there any news on the Gauls and Early Imperial Roman releases? It has been very quiet :(
It has indeed been very quiet on these, they've been bumped down the pecking order unfortunately as we had so many other things that needed releasing. I do plan on getting them master moulded in the coming weeks, and then we can hopefully see them production moulded and released before the end of summer.
Yeah! :-bd